When I arrived in Vietnam in March of 1970, one of the first things ‘Uncle Sam’ issued to me was a steel pot; the military called it the M-1 helmet. It felt like it weighed half a ton when you first put it on your newly shaved (basic training) head. A short time later, I traded it for a much lighter and more fashionable boonie hat.

Prior to the Vietnam War, what was most commonly seen on helmets were rank insignia and unit designations.

In this June 18, 1965 file photo, an unidentified U.S. Army soldier wears a hand lettered “War Is Hell” slogan on his helmet, in Vietnam. The war ended on April 30, 1975, with the fall of Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, to communist troops from the north. (AP Photo/Horst Faas)

Used my helmet for a pillow one night and unfortunately put it on a ant hill. The ants went up to my helmet and when I flipped up and put it on the red ants just poured down on my head. NO Fun, those little sucker bite. I had to dose my head with diesel and it still felt like they were on me for days.

Graffiti, we always had how many days left and of course we started with the usual FNG on our helmet. I mainly used boonie hat as well except when we where landing in new areas to open new LZ’s or when we went into Cambodia in 1970.

I know I`ve asked about this before but has anyone any ideas of who the gentleman was in the `war is hell` photo? I`ve been searching for months to try and find out about him. No one seems to know, there has to be someone! Thanks again for the amazing stories!
Dawn